Which symptom is characteristic of major depressive disorder?

• A. Euphoric mood with increased energy
• B. Hallucinations with disorganized thoughts
• C. Chronic irritability with episodic aggression
• D. Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable.

Answer: (D)

Major depressive disorder is defined by a sustained depressed mood with a marked loss of interest or pleasure in most activities. The described symptoms—persistent sadness, a sense of hopelessness, and a loss of interest in things that used to be enjoyable—capture this pattern and reflect clinically significant distress or impairment that persists over time. The other descriptions point to different conditions: a euphoric mood with increased energy suggests mania, hallucinations with disorganized thoughts point to a psychotic or schizophrenic spectrum, and chronic irritability with episodic aggression is not the hallmark presentation of a depressive episode. So, the persistent sadness with hopelessness and anhedonia best characterizes major depressive disorder.